Influence of equipotent doses propofol and thiopentone on arterial pressure and heart rate at induction of anesthesia. A comparison between young and old patients.

To compare the influence on arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) at induction, twenty-eight 25-40 years and twenty-nine 65-80 years old unpremedicated patients were anesthetized with propofol 1.5 mg/kg or thiopentone 2.5 mg/kg. Simultaneously respectively propofol 9 mg/kg/h or thiopentone 6 mg/kg/h was infused. Additional bolus were eventually supplied (propofol 20 mg, thiopentone 25 mg). All patients received fentanyl 1.5 microgram/kg and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg. Baseline values for both young and both old groups were identical. Immediately and 3' post-intubation HR in young thiopentone patients increased significantly (p less than 0.05) compared with propofol youngsters. AP decrease before intubation was identical in both old groups and slightly more important in young propofol than young thiopentone patients. AP increased significantly more (p less than 0.01) in both thiopentone groups immediately and 3' post-intubation, when also rate pressure products were significantly higher. It was concluded that propofol provided a more favorable cardiovascular situation than thiopentone, especially in the elderly.